We investigate the possibility of erosion planetesimals in a protoplanetary disk. use theory and direct numerical simulations (lattice Boltzmann method) to calculate large—much larger than mean-free path gas molecules—bodies different shapes flows. find that follows universal power law time, at intermediate times, independent Reynolds number flow initial shape body. Consequently, we estimate ec...

We introduce a class of eccentric discs with “strong” density cusps whose potentials are of Stäckel form in elliptic coordinates. Our models exhibit some striking features: sufficiently close to the location of the cusp, the potential and surface density distribution diverge as Φ ∝ r and Σ ∝ r, respectively. As we move outward from the centre, the model takes a non-axisymmetric, lopsided struct...

Stellar-mass compact binaries in eccentric orbits are almost guaranteed sources of gravitational waves for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. We present a prescription to compute accurate and efficient gravitational-wave polarizations associated with bound compact binaries of arbitrary eccentricity and mass ratio moving in slowly precessing orbits. We compare our approach with those existing i...

The appearance of a bar in a galaxy considerably changes the mass distribution within the galactic disc. We have therefore performed a detailed study of the mass relocation within a stellar Kuzmin disc using two-dimensional numerical simulations with fixed 3D-potentials representing the bulge and the halo. We have started from a fully axisymmetric stellar distribution and followed the galaxy th...

In most extrasolar planetary systems, the present orbits of known giant planets admit the existence of stable terrestrial planets. Those same giant planets, however, have typically eccentric orbits that hint at violent early dynamics less benign for low mass planet formation. Under the assumption that massive planet eccentricities are the end point of gravitational scattering in multiple planet...

Doppler measurements of two G–type main–sequence stars, HD210277 and HD168443, reveal Keplerian variations that imply the presence of companions with masses (M sin i ) of 1.28 and 5.04 MJUP and orbital periods of 437 d and 58 d, respectively. The orbits have large eccentricities of e=0.45 and e=0.54, respectively. All 9 known extrasolar planet candidates with a=0.2–2.5 AU have orbital eccentric...

Transiting planet lightcurves have historically been used predominantly for measuring the depth and hence ratio of the planet-star radii, p. Equations have previously been presented by Seager & Mallén-Ornelas (2003) for the analysis of the total and trough transit lightcurve times to derive the ratio of semi-major axis to stellar radius, a/R∗, in the case of circular orbits. Here, a new analyti...